Incorrect or inconsistent referencing is one of the most common reasons CIPD assignments receive academic misconduct warnings or reduced grades. This guide provides exact Harvard formats for every source type you will encounter.
Harvard Referencing Format Examples for CIPD
1. Academic Textbook
Format: Author, A. (Year) Title of book. Edition. Place of publication: Publisher.
Example: Armstrong, M. and Taylor, S. (2023) Armstrong's Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice. 16th ed. London: Kogan Page.
In-text: (Armstrong and Taylor, 2023)
2. CIPD Official Research Report / Factsheet
Format: CIPD (Year) 'Title of factsheet' [online]. Available at: URL (Accessed: DD Month YYYY).
Example: CIPD (2024) 'Employee engagement and motivation' [online]. Available at: www.cipd.org (Accessed: 20 August 2026).
In-text: (CIPD, 2024)
3. Peer-Reviewed Journal Article
Format: Author, A. and Author, B. (Year) 'Title of article', Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pp. X–Y.
Example: Boxall, P. and Purcell, J. (2022) 'High-performance work systems and employee outcomes', Human Resource Management Journal, 32(4), pp. 567–589.
In-text: (Boxall and Purcell, 2022)
4. UK Employment Legislation
Format: Title of Act (Year). Available at: legislation.gov.uk.
Example: Equality Act 2010. Available at: www.legislation.gov.uk (Accessed: 15 August 2026).
In-text: (Equality Act 2010)
5. ACAS Code of Practice / Government Report
Format: Organisation (Year) Title of document. Place: Publisher.
Example: ACAS (2021) Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures. London: ACAS.
In-text: (ACAS, 2021)
Common Referencing Errors to Avoid
| Error | Example (Wrong) | Correct Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Missing year | (Armstrong, n.d.) | Always trace the actual publication year. |
| URL-only citation | www.cipd.org | Full format with author, year, title, and access date. |
| Citing Wikipedia | (Wikipedia, 2024) | Use primary or peer-reviewed academic sources only. |
| No in-text citation for a quoted stat | "Turnover costs 33% of salary." | Every fact or quote must have an (Author, Year) citation. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the difference between a bibliography and a reference list?
A reference list contains only sources you directly cited in the text. A bibliography includes additional sources consulted but not directly cited. CIPD generally requires a reference list, not a bibliography.
Q2: Should references be in alphabetical order?
Yes. Your Harvard reference list must be arranged alphabetically by the author's surname (or by the organisation name for corporate authors such as CIPD or ACAS).
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